Safety-envelop.



c. C. FERGUSON,

SAFETY ENVELOP.

MPUCATION *FILED MAY l5, 15H6.

CLAYTON CHESTER FERGUSON, OF JERSEY CTY, NEW JERSEY.

SAFETY-ENVELOP.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

Application led May 15, 1916. Serial No. 97,720.

To all lwhom t 'may concern Be it known that 1, CLAYTON CHEsTER FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of 913 Bergen ave., Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and 11nproved 'Safety-Envelop, of which the following is a specication.

This invention has for its object the production of an envelop which after closure will vindicate whether it has been surreptitiously opened, and whether any attempt has been made to do so. The envelop can be closed without the necessity of moistening gum on any portion thereof.

The envelop contains a metallic plate or other stiff material by means of which its content-s cannot be bent, and which also prevents its contents to be seen by transmitted light or Roentgen rays.

The envelop has incorporated therewith a snap fastening device which after the members thereof are locked together can not be separated without indicating, such separation on the envelop.

1n the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an envelop in its open position exemplifying the invention, with a section as-on the line 1, 1 of Fig. 3; Fig. 2 shows a view similar to Fig. 1 with the envelop in its closed position and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the back of the envelop when closed.

lThe envelop is shown with the front wall 10 perferably of paper or other suitable material which is bent over at the sides and ends 8 and then joins with the non-lapping stationery flaps 9 which form the back of the envelop. A metallic plate 11 is fastened to the flaps 9 by an adhesive and has the tubular portions 25 at the sides and one end thereof, which extend to one end and the sides of the envelop. Openings 28 are formed in the tubular portions 25. The plate 11 has formedat one end the flexible male member 12 of a snap locking device. rlhe member 12 is V shaped with the apex 13 and the legs 21 and 27. rIhe ends 30 pf the iaps 9 extend to the leg 21 of the member 12.

A closing ap is indicated in its entirety by the numerals 14 and consists of the portion 15 which is formed with and is a continuation of the wall 10. A folding crease between the wall 10 and the portion 15 is indicated at 26, 26. The closing flap 14 has the crowned portion 17 and the curved end flange 29.

The metallic female member of the locking device is shown to comprise the plate 16 which is secured to the portion 15 by means of an adhesive not shown. The plate 16 has formed therewith the ledge 22 having the edge 20. A tubular portion 25a with the openings 28iL is formed at one end of the plate 16 and at the other end is formed the iiexible outer V shaped member with the legs 19, 19a. The leg 19 has a return bend to form the inner V shaped member having the legs 18 and 191. The double V shaped portion of the female member is seated in the crowned portion 17, the end flange 29 engaging the outer end of the leg 19. vThe space between the end of the flange 29 and the edge 20 is indicated at 23.

The envelop is closed by swinging the closing flap 14 on the crease 26, 26 to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereby the double V shaped portion of the locking member is seated on the male member 12. The ledge 22 locks itself under the lower edge of the leg 27 and the plate 16 with the plate 11 forms practically a continuous stiff plate within the envelop. Pressure is then brought on the crowned portion 17 to rmly clamp together the members of the snap locking device, so that it can only be opened by marring or destroying the same and the closing flap 14. A colored Wax may be located in the tubular portions 25 and 25:t which will be discharged from the openings 28 and 28a as indicated at 25F1 in case the envelop is heated. The flaps 9 may be entirely or in places weakened, made brittle or waterproof by means of suitable chemicals. A part or the entire superficial surface of the envelop may be covered by any suitable transparent substance like silicate of soda, or varnish may be applied. Between diiferent layers of the coating any printed matter or colored designs may be applied. rThe plate 16 may be supplied with gum, so that when the ap 14 is closed it will adhere to the inner face of the wall 10.

Having described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim is:

1. In an envelop the combination of a plate attached to the inner face of a wall thereof and extending to two sides and one end of the envelop and having one member of a fastening device formed therewith, and a second plate fastened to the inner face of the closing flap of the envelop and extending to Jthe sides and ends of the latter, the said second plate having the other member of the fastening device formed therewith.

2. 1n an envelop the Combination of a plate attached to the inner face of the rear wall thereof, the said plate having a V shaped flexible member of a fastening device formed therewith, and a second plate with a flexible second member of the fastening device secured to the closing flap of the envelop, the said second member having a portion V shaped in cross section with a ledge, the latter member enabled to be clamped to the iirst member, the ledge of the second member locked with an edge of the. iirst member, the two plates when the envelop is closed forming a support-ing wall for the envelop throughout the entire length and width.

3. In an envelop the combination of a metallic plate attached to the inner face of the rear wall thereof and extending to two sides and one end of the envelop and having one member of a snap fastening device formed therewith, said device being 'V shaped in Cross-section and having a free wall with an edge distant from its accompanying wall, a closing iap for the envelop, a metallic plate attached to the flap bv and el. In an envelop the combination of a metallic plate secured to a wall thereof within the envelop and extending to two-.sides and one end ofthe same and h-avingrone member of a snap fastening deviee'formed at one end and a tubular portion with perforations at the sides and one end ofthe plate, and a second metallic plateY fastened to the flap and extending to itsrsidesE and ends the second plate having asecondc' mem'- ber of the snap fastening device' formed at one end and a. tubular portion with perforations formed at the other end-of the second plate, the said plateswhen theenvelop is in its closed position forming astiff platewith;

in the envelop throughout: the length' and width thereof.

CLAYTON CHESTER' FERGUSON. Witnesses:

HENRY KLIE, C. A. BARR,

Copies or this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of' Patents, Washington, B. C. 

